Tom Brennan
What have the attitudes and actions of people in your texts revealed to you about venturing into society?
Moving into society is a transitional phase, marked by new challenges, opportunities and relationships. Transitions in life can change an individual’s perception of the world and obstacles may arise which test individual’s strength. This is shown through analysis of the novel ‘The Story of Tom Brennan’ by J.C. Burke (2005) and the memoir “At least it’s not contagious’ by Samantha Miles (1995). Hindered by emotional turmoil and an uncontrollable situation in Mumbilli, the protagonist Tom Brennan relieves his devastated life in the new realm of Coghill through forming new relationships and accepting new avenues for personal development. Likewise, “At least its not contagious” reflects on the uncontrollable situations life can throw at individuals and shows the responder that determination and acceptance is the only way to overcome these obstacles. These two texts both show how the attitudes and actions of people can be altered when faced with life changing situations.
When venturing into a new world, there are many obstacles evident. In the novel, ‘The Story of Tom Brennan’, many obstacles are faced. Burke illustrates that Tom Brennan and his family are forced into a new world as a result of the tragic decision his brother made to drink and drive. This is shown through the metaphor “The town of Mumbilli is bleeding”. This expresses how the town is feeling physically from the accident. The accident acts as a barrier between the Brennan’s and the rest of the town, as seen through the reactions of the townspeople. “The silhouettes of houses slipped past before I could catch them and remember the people we were leaving behind. In a couple of hours they would wake and find us gone, far away, so as not to remind them of their pain and what our family now means to this town.” This quote creates a clear image in the responder’s head of what Tom is leaving behind
Moving into society is a transitional phase, marked by new challenges, opportunities and relationships. Transitions in life can change an individual’s perception of the world and obstacles may arise which test individual’s strength. This is shown through analysis of the novel ‘The Story of Tom Brennan’ by J.C. Burke (2005) and the memoir “At least it’s not contagious’ by Samantha Miles (1995). Hindered by emotional turmoil and an uncontrollable situation in Mumbilli, the protagonist Tom Brennan relieves his devastated life in the new realm of Coghill through forming new relationships and accepting new avenues for personal development. Likewise, “At least its not contagious” reflects on the uncontrollable situations life can throw at individuals and shows the responder that determination and acceptance is the only way to overcome these obstacles. These two texts both show how the attitudes and actions of people can be altered when faced with life changing situations.
When venturing into a new world, there are many obstacles evident. In the novel, ‘The Story of Tom Brennan’, many obstacles are faced. Burke illustrates that Tom Brennan and his family are forced into a new world as a result of the tragic decision his brother made to drink and drive. This is shown through the metaphor “The town of Mumbilli is bleeding”. This expresses how the town is feeling physically from the accident. The accident acts as a barrier between the Brennan’s and the rest of the town, as seen through the reactions of the townspeople. “The silhouettes of houses slipped past before I could catch them and remember the people we were leaving behind. In a couple of hours they would wake and find us gone, far away, so as not to remind them of their pain and what our family now means to this town.” This quote creates a clear image in the responder’s head of what Tom is leaving behind